As far as I can tell, managing a campaign in DnDBeyond consists of entering text into a WYSIWYG box. Every dungeon master needs so much more than this!!!
I need to organize LOCATIONS. I can't even create a location, so that's an issue. A location should be just another entity, like a character, a monster, a spell, magical item, etc. Of course I can type out a bunch of text about a location in the same aforementioned box where I type everything else, but that is not satisfactory. Wouldn't it be cool if there was random dungeon generator (modeled after the same section in the DMG)? I could generate the dungeon location in DDB, assign my home-brew monsters/NPCs to different room, assign my home-brew traps (see below) to different room. This would clearly be amazing.
I need to organize NPCs. Now, before you say it, I realize I can create a homebrew monster stat block and use that as an NPC. However, most NPCs do not require a stat block. How do I manage the 30 NPCs in my campaign that are just simple shopkeepers? I still need to manage that content somehow and it would be convenient if this site could help me out. And no I'm not gonna create a character sheet for each one. This solution should be light weight. Just like the DMG recommends, an NPC needs to have an appearance, some personality traits, high/low ability, ideals, bonds, flaws, etc. I would love to be able to organize that content! Most do not need levels or a stat block. Also, wouldn't it be cool if I could associate my NPCs with location entities (see above)?!!
I need one place where I can store all my MAPS. And the ability to associate Maps with Locations and NPCs. Enough said, this would be awesome. No, I do not need this site to be a VTT.
I need the option to create homebrew TRAPS and then associate them with locations.
This isn't a bad idea. However, given that you can just link to D&D Beyond quite easily, I organize everything in OneNote and just link to D&D Beyond.
However, the one problem I do have with D&D Beyond is if I want to have campaign specific notes on a monster or an item. If you create this "locations" idea, it would be worth it if, when you add a monster or an item or whatever to the "location" that you could add campaign specific notes. Then I could see using it.
I like all these ideas. I personally would love if DDB and worldforge merged or were made compatible (probably not going to happen).
A suggestion to DDB for the NPC issue. With the container update, allow NPCs to be given inventories. Then let DMs add NPCs and containers to campaigns without assigning them to a character (basically same UI as extras tab with fewer options). That way we can organize NPCs in campaigns either homebrew or just commoners, with notes, descriptions, and inventories for them readily accessible. Would make a good addition to DM screen/campaign manager update.
Yes, for example, I have a bard in my campaign and I use the basic D&D Beyond stat block. However, this particular bard has a name and is wearing 2 magic rings. Plus I have some back story on him and as the party interacts with him I want to keep notes. I do all of this in OneNote with links to the stat block and the magic items. All of this seems like it would be good to just have in D&D Beyond. This isn't VTT stuff, it is just organizing the campaign.
All of the choices in the poll would be useful to a campaign, but the biggest pain point that I have is managing NPCs. I often create characters for my game via the D&D Beyond tools, but I have no way of associating them with a campaign (unless I make them unassigned characters, in which case other people can view their stats). Having an NPC section for the campaign would be awesome.
As far as I can tell, managing a campaign in DnDBeyond consists of entering text into a WYSIWYG box. Every dungeon master needs so much more than this!!!
I need to organize LOCATIONS. I can't even create a location, so that's an issue. A location should be just another entity, like a character, a monster, a spell, magical item, etc. Of course I can type out a bunch of text about a location in the same aforementioned box where I type everything else, but that is not satisfactory. Wouldn't it be cool if there was random dungeon generator (modeled after the same section in the DMG)? I could generate the dungeon location in DDB, assign my home-brew monsters/NPCs to different room, assign my home-brew traps (see below) to different room. This would clearly be amazing.
I need to organize NPCs. Now, before you say it, I realize I can create a homebrew monster stat block and use that as an NPC. However, most NPCs do not require a stat block. How do I manage the 30 NPCs in my campaign that are just simple shopkeepers? I still need to manage that content somehow and it would be convenient if this site could help me out. And no I'm not gonna create a character sheet for each one. This solution should be light weight. Just like the DMG recommends, an NPC needs to have an appearance, some personality traits, high/low ability, ideals, bonds, flaws, etc. I would love to be able to organize that content! Most do not need levels or a stat block. Also, wouldn't it be cool if I could associate my NPCs with location entities (see above)?!!
I need one place where I can store all my MAPS. And the ability to associate Maps with Locations and NPCs. Enough said, this would be awesome. No, I do not need this site to be a VTT.
I need the option to create homebrew TRAPS and then associate them with locations.
This isn't a bad idea. However, given that you can just link to D&D Beyond quite easily, I organize everything in OneNote and just link to D&D Beyond.
However, the one problem I do have with D&D Beyond is if I want to have campaign specific notes on a monster or an item. If you create this "locations" idea, it would be worth it if, when you add a monster or an item or whatever to the "location" that you could add campaign specific notes. Then I could see using it.
I like all these ideas. I personally would love if DDB and worldforge merged or were made compatible (probably not going to happen).
A suggestion to DDB for the NPC issue. With the container update, allow NPCs to be given inventories. Then let DMs add NPCs and containers to campaigns without assigning them to a character (basically same UI as extras tab with fewer options). That way we can organize NPCs in campaigns either homebrew or just commoners, with notes, descriptions, and inventories for them readily accessible. Would make a good addition to DM screen/campaign manager update.
Yes, for example, I have a bard in my campaign and I use the basic D&D Beyond stat block. However, this particular bard has a name and is wearing 2 magic rings. Plus I have some back story on him and as the party interacts with him I want to keep notes. I do all of this in OneNote with links to the stat block and the magic items. All of this seems like it would be good to just have in D&D Beyond. This isn't VTT stuff, it is just organizing the campaign.
All of the choices in the poll would be useful to a campaign, but the biggest pain point that I have is managing NPCs. I often create characters for my game via the D&D Beyond tools, but I have no way of associating them with a campaign (unless I make them unassigned characters, in which case other people can view their stats). Having an NPC section for the campaign would be awesome.
Reading this 4 years later... And it did not age particularly well. These are still needed 4 years later.